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Canon M50 II vs Sony NEX-3

Portability
79
Imaging
71
Features
88
Overall
77
Canon EOS M50 Mark II front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-3 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
55
Overall
54

Canon M50 II vs Sony NEX-3 Key Specs

Canon M50 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Increase to 51200)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Canon EF-M Mount
  • 387g - 116 x 88 x 59mm
  • Revealed October 2020
  • Superseded the Canon M50
Sony NEX-3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 297g - 117 x 62 x 33mm
  • Revealed June 2010
  • Refreshed by Sony NEX-C3
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Canon M50 II vs Sony NEX-3 Overview

In this write-up, we are analyzing the Canon M50 II versus Sony NEX-3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Canon and Sony. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the M50 II (24MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) but they use the same exact sensor size (APS-C).

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The M50 II was revealed 10 years after the NEX-3 which is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Canon M50 II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony NEX-3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the M50 II scores vs the NEX-3 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon M50 II over the Sony NEX-3

 M50 II NEX-3 
RevealedOctober 2020June 2010More modern by 127 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k920kSharper display (+120k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-3 over the Canon M50 II

 NEX-3 M50 II 

Common features in the Canon M50 II and Sony NEX-3

 M50 II NEX-3 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size

Canon M50 II vs Sony NEX-3 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera, you'll have to factor its weight and volume. The Canon M50 II comes with physical dimensions of 116mm x 88mm x 59mm (4.6" x 3.5" x 2.3") and a weight of 387 grams (0.85 lbs) while the Sony NEX-3 has sizing of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Check the Canon M50 II versus Sony NEX-3 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have at that moment. The following is the front view measurements comparison of the M50 II against the NEX-3.

Canon M50 II vs Sony NEX-3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the M50 II and NEX-3 is 79 and 89 respectively.

Canon M50 II vs Sony NEX-3 top view buttons comparison

Canon M50 II vs Sony NEX-3 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's tough to see the difference between sensor sizes purely by reading through technical specs. The pic underneath will help give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the M50 II and NEX-3.

As you can tell, both the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Canon M50 II to give you more detail because of its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop images a little more aggressively. The younger M50 II is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon M50 II vs Sony NEX-3 sensor size comparison

Canon M50 II vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon M50 II vs Sony NEX-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon M50 II Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-3 Portrait photography features
82
manual focus
MP count decent (24MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
72
you can focus manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Canon M50 II Street photography details
Sony NEX-3 Street photography details
85
screen articulates
image stabilization
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
boasts focus by touch
very good high ISO (25,600)
76
screen tilts up and down
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon M50 II as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-3 as a Sports photography camera
77
image stabilization
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with tracking focus
sensor has phase detect AF
terrible battery life (305 CIPA)
52
good resolution (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon M50 II Travel photography info
Sony NEX-3 Travel photography info
79
connects via bluetooth
boasts focus by touch
MP count decent (24MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
terrible battery life (305 shots)
59
good resolution (14MP)
missing Timelapse function
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon M50 II
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-3
80
manual focus
change lenses (Canon EF-M mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
image stabilization
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
very good high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW files
terrible battery life (305 CIPA)
68
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3")
good resolution (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon M50 II Vlogging advice
Sony NEX-3 Vlogging advice
85
selfie friendly screen
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization
comes with face detect focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes mic port
27
offers face detect focus
doesn't have selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing microphone jack
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Canon M50 II vs Sony NEX-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon M50 II and Sony NEX-3
 Canon EOS M50 Mark IISony Alpha NEX-3
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model type Canon EOS M50 Mark II Sony Alpha NEX-3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2020-10-14 2010-06-07
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 332.3mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 24 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 6000 x 4000 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 25600 12800
Highest boosted ISO 51200 -
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 143 25
Lens
Lens mount type Canon EF-M Sony E
Available lenses 23 121
Crop factor 1.6 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,040k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - TFT Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 120 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB Yes USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Yes None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 387 gr (0.85 lb) 297 gr (0.65 lb)
Dimensions 116 x 88 x 59mm (4.6" x 3.5" x 2.3") 117 x 62 x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 68
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 830
Other
Battery life 305 photos 330 photos
Battery format Built-in Battery Pack
Battery ID - NPFW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC slot (UHS-I compatible) SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots One One
Cost at launch $599 $0